Aspirin after Breast Cancer Diagnosis.

Studies have shown that aspirin may inhibit breast cancer metastasis in animals, so a group from Harvard looked at the effect of taking aspirin on women who were diagnosed with breast cancer.  You may find the article online at http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/28/9/1467.full.pdf+html.


This is another report of a subgroup from the Nurses' Health Study.  Data from 4164 women who were diagnosed with cancer between 1976 and 2002 were observed until death or 2006.


Aspirin use categories were never or past users, current one day a week use, aspirin 2-5 days a week and current use 6-7 days a week.


The aspirin users 2 or more days per week significantly reduced breast cancer death risk and reduced distant metastatic disease.


Relative risk of death was reduced:

• for 2-5 days per week          71%
• for 6-7 days per week          64%

Relative risk for distant metastatic disease was similarly reduced:

• for 2-5 days per week          60%
• for 6-7 days per week          43%

Importantly, these findings were present for Estrogen Receptor Positive and Negative tumors.

So, does this mean everyone should begin taking aspirin?  Not necessarily.  This is information for you to discuss with your doctor.  Aspirin has side effects and some people should not take aspirin.  Again, you and your doctor need to review this information and decide if aspirin would benefit you.